Actuator



G. CARBONARO March 31, 1942.

AcTuAToR Fiied sept. 5, 193s d m. Rm. Mmmm -WW2 www a @M Patented Mar. 31, 1942 ACTUATOR Gaetano Carbonaro, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to E. A. Laboratories, Inc., Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application September 3, 1938, Serial No. 228,345

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a functionally and structurally improved actuator.

While the teachings of the present invention may be advantageously employed in numerous different associations, the actuator is of primary utility when used in connection with sounding `instruments such as horns, and especially horns which are applied to motor vehicles such as automobiles.

As such, the present actuator will serve to efficiently operate in a positive, novel and pleasing manner, a pair of horns and in accordance with traino and road conditions as encountered by the operator.

A further object is that of providing a unit of this character as well as an operating system coupled thereto and which may be employed with horns as heretofore sold and installed as well as in association with initial installations.

Still another object is that of furnishing a unit and system of this type which will embody relatively few parts, each individually simple and rugged in construction, these parts operating over long periods of time with freedom from all difliculties.

With these and other objects in mind, reference is had to the attached sheet of drawing illustrating one practical embodiment of the invention and in which:

Fig. 1 shows the unit in association with an annunciator or sounding system;

Fig. 2 is a partly sectional side view of an actuator with a portion of the casing removed to show underlying constructions;

Fig, 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the lines 3-3 and in the direction of the arrows of Fig. 2; and

Figs. 4 and 5 are transverse sectional views taken along the lines 4-4 and 5 5 and in the direction of the arrows of Fig. 2.

In view of the fact that the improved actuator and system are primarily employed in connection with sounding systems and horns, the invention has been accordingly illustrated. This, however, is to be construed in an illustrative rather than in a limiting sense.

Thus, referring primarily to Figs. 2 to 5, it will be seen that the numerals III and II indicate a pair of sections which may be formed of diecasting, hard rubber, Bakelite, etc. Securing elements I2 maintain these sections against displacement and if die-cast metal is employed a screw I3 may be utilized to ground one side of an electrical circuit as will hereinafter appear. Arms I5 which, in the case of die-casting, may

be positioned in the die so as to be imbedded in the material, are extended in the form of bracket sections I6 which may encircle the steering co1- umn or other suitable mounting element. These arms are provided with openings whichif the unit be die-cast-permit metal to key through them. Otherwise a retaining bolt I4 may be employed to secure the parts against relative movements. Strips I1 are mounted by the casing sections and these strips, in the case of die-casting, should be of insulating material. Otherwise they may be of metal. In any event they mount contact strips I8 and I9. The former may be provided with a pair of inwardly extending portions 20 and 2| spaced from each other to a relatively major extent. Strip I9 as shown, is formed with inwardly extending portions 22 and 23 which are relatively adjacent each other. 'I'he first of these portions is disposed inwardly of portion 2D and the second is preferably disposed in line with portion 2 I. As will be hereinafter apparent, certain functions are desired and these functions may be achieved by numerous arrangements of the portions and the circuit bridging element. However, it is preferred that in the interest of simplicity the foregoing construction be resorted to.

Arranged intermediate strips I8 and I9 is a rod 24 which may be slidably mounted by extending through a bore in the casing section or sections and may also extend through an opening in a guide element 25 mounted by one of the sections. A spring 26 may be interposed between this guide element and a contact member 21 mounted upon, or forming a part of rod 24 so as to constantly urge this member into engagement with a stop 28 which may form a part of one or both casing sections. The outer end of rod 24 conveniently mounts a knob 29. It follows that the parts are normally in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, but that by pressing inwardly upon knob 29 member 21 primarily engages contact portion 20. Thereafter it engages contact portion 22 and under continued inward projection simultaneously engages portions 2I and 23. Upon its return movement under the action of spring 26, contact member 2l will, of course, after disengaging from portions 2| and 22, engage portion 22 and finally portion 20,

Now referring to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the actuator has been diagrammatically shown and that a source of electrical current supply has been indicated at 20. One of the leads 3I from this source is connected to or grounded against rod 24, this being conveniently accomplished by securing the lead to a guide element in contact with rod 24 cr screw I3. A relatively high pitch or intensity sounding unit such as a horn 32 is provided and there is also provided a relatively low intensity or pitch horn 33. The terminals of each of these horns are connected by a lead 34 to lead 3|. In order to secure maximum operation of the sounding devices, it is today customary to employ relays which serve to assure of full voltage being impressed upon each electrical element which is to be actuated. With this thought in mind, the present invention also contemplates the use of relays, although it will be understood that in certain circumstances the wiring diagram might be modied to obviate this necessity.

Thus, relays 35 and 36 have been illustrated, the winding of the first being connected to strip I8 while the windings of the second are connected to strip I9. The opposite ends of the coils are coupled to a lead 38 extending from the source 3U. Arranged in shunt with these coils and coupled to this lead are circuit closers 39 forming parts of the relays and coupled to the opposite terminals of horns 32 and 33, from those to which lead 34 is coupled.

Now consideringT the operation of the unit, it will be obvious that when an operator projects rod 24, he will primarily close the circuit through sounding device 33 which will furnish a signal of low intensity. Further projection of rod 24 will interrupt the circuit through unit 33 and will cause unit 22 to be operated, and still further projection of the knob or button 23 will cause both units 32 and 33 to simultaneously operate. In the return movement of the knob and rod it will be appreciated that incident to engagement of contact member 21 with projection 22, unit 32 will be primarily operated and finally unit 33 will operate.

Thus, when applied to horns, it is apparent that the operator, desiring to sound a relatively soft and non-alarming signal, may achieve this result by projecting the rod so that contact 20 is engaged. If a more intense signal is desired, a greater projection of the rod will cause unit 32 to signal, while if an extreme signal is desired, both units will operate upon the rod being fully projected. Ol course where the operator moves the rod with great rapidity the inertia of elements 32 and 33 will be such that they will practically not sound as contact member 21 quickly moves past portions 20 and 22 and engages portions 2l and 23. However, a slow projection and retraction of the rod will result in an extremely pleasing and novel range of actuation incident to the fact that the low and high intensity horns (and which may also be of diierent pitch) will be sequentially actuated and thereafter both will sound, while iinally they will both be sequentially operated, but in reverse order.

As illustrated, casing sections ID and Il are of insulating material and strips I'l may be formed of metal. However, as afore brought out the casing sections may be of die-cast metal in which instance, of course, strips I3 and I9 should not be grounded. Also, in the latter instance lead 3| is coupled to screw i3 or otherwise grounded to the casing while in the former instance it should be in direct electrical connection with contact member 2l by coupling it to guide 25 or any other convenient element.

Thus, among others, the several objects of the invention as afore noted are achieved. Obviously, numerous changes in construction and rearrangement of the parts might be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as deiined by the claim.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A switch including a housing, mounting strips supported within said housing, a pair of contact strips having their ends secured to said mounting strip and spaced therefrom, said contact strips being disposed within said housing in spaced relationship and opposed to each other, a rod slidably mounted between said strips, a contact member mounted by said rod to move with the same, inwardly projecting portions forming a part of said contact strips and projecting into the path of movement of said member, certain portions on the different strips being disposed out of line with each other, whereby said member will move out of engagement with one portion before engaging another contact portion, others oi the contact portions on the different strips being disposed substantially in line with each other and whereby said member will simultaneously engage said latter portions and means for normally urging said rod to a position such, that said member will be out of engagement with all of said contact portions.

GAETANO CARBONARO. 

